KR20000052156A - Method for self testing of base station in cellular system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method of self test in the terminal system is provided to make happen the stable communication service through the manager's quick action. CONSTITUTION: A method of self test in the terminal system comprises the steps of: testing the self credibility bt the base station self test device(s110); testing the transmission route of base station(s120); testing the receiving route of base station(s130); testing the transmitting call processing function of base station by the test cellular phone(s140); reporting the each test result to the system operator(s150).

Description

METHOOD FOR SELF TESTING OF BASE STATION IN CELLULAR SYSTEM}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cellular radio telecommunication system, and in particular, by self-testing a function of a base station using a BS test unit mounted in a base station (BS). The present invention relates to a self-checking method of a base station in a cellular system for diagnosing a service state of the base station.

The cellular mobile communication system divides the entire service area into a plurality of base station areas to form cells, which are small service areas, and centrally controls these base stations with a mobile switching center (MSC). This allows the subscriber to continue the call while moving from cell to cell.

1 shows a schematic diagram of a typical cellular mobile communication base station, which can be applied to all kinds of systems using Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology, as shown. Is connected to a higher frequency unit (RF Unit: RFU) 10 for processing a radio frequency signal (Radio Frequency Signal) signal of the terminal, a digital unit (DU) 20 for analyzing the intermediate frequency signal, the upper system A BS Interconnection Network (BIN) 30 and a BS Control Processor (BCP) 40 which controls operations such as call processing and device initialization of the base station.

The high frequency unit 10 includes a directional coupler (DC) connected to a transmitting and receiving antenna, a band pass filter (BPF) for removing out-of-band signals, and a high power amplifier for amplifying a transmission signal. HPA), a low noise amplifier (LNA) for amplifying a received signal, and a transceiver for converting a radio frequency signal (RF signal) and a baseband signal (baseband signal). The digital unit 20 modulates and demodulates a baseband signal.

In a typical cellular mobile communication system configured as described above, the base station uses a radio transmission / reception path between the base station and the mobile terminal and a diagnostic apparatus 50 capable of checking call processing operations of the base station.

Since the ultimate function of the mobile communication base station is a call with the mobile terminal, the base station diagnostic apparatus 50 performs a call with the base station using an internal test terminal designed in the same manner as the general terminal to test this function of the base station. That is, the base station diagnostic apparatus artificially connects the test terminal and the base station, and then tests the function of the base station.

2 is a block diagram of a power detector of a base station diagnostic apparatus according to the prior art, and measures a signal received from a transmission path and a reception path of a base station using a structure as shown in the figure, and a call processing function by a test terminal. Test

The operator of the system can remotely control various functions and states of the mobile terminal and the base station through the base station diagnosis apparatus to obtain data for diagnosis and measure the state of the base station. As described above, the base station diagnostic apparatus enables a remote operator to check whether the base station is providing normal service, thereby significantly reducing the cost of base station operation maintenance.

The base station diagnostic apparatus tests its transmit power detection function, measures the transmit power of the base station, diagnoses the transmit and receive antennas of the base station, and tests the outgoing signal function of the base station using a test terminal. The various functions of the base station diagnostic apparatus as described above are performed independently of each other, and the base station diagnostic apparatus informs the operator of each diagnosis result.

Therefore, in the conventional base station diagnostic method operating as described above, since the base station diagnostic apparatus notifies the operator of the diagnosis results of the various diagnostic functions independently performed, the respective diagnostic functions do not have much correlation with each other. As a result, the conventional base station diagnostic apparatus has a problem in that it is not possible to notify the system operator of a diagnosis result of a signal path which is determined to have a general abnormality and abnormality of the base station.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention, which was devised to solve the problems of the prior art operating as described above, is to sequentially diagnose the base station according to a schedule of various functions of the base station diagnostic apparatus, and use the result to determine whether there is an abnormality of the base station. The present invention provides a method for self-checking a base station in a cellular system, which notifies an operator of an expected path and device.

1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a typical CDMA digital cellular base station system.

2 is a power detector configuration of a base station diagnostic apparatus according to the prior art.

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the configuration of the base station diagnostic apparatus applied to the present invention.

4 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a base station self-checking method according to the present invention;

5 is a block diagram showing a measurement procedure of the base station transmit power according to the present invention.

6 is a block diagram illustrating a procedure for checking a base station transmission antenna according to the present invention.

7 is a block diagram showing a diagnostic procedure of the base station reception path according to the present invention.

8 is a block diagram showing a diagnostic procedure of the base station signaling function according to the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10: high frequency unit 20: digital unit

30: base station interconnection network 40: base station main processor

50: base station diagnostic apparatus 60: base station management system

102,116 switch 104,132 attenuator

106,112,126,120: Amplifier 107,121,130: Oscillator

108,122: mixer 110,124: band filter

114,128: Detector 118: Analog-to-digital converter

136: distributor 134: test terminal

200: high frequency switch

202,204,212,214,222,224,232,254,248,252: switch

206,208,216,218,226,228,252: Splitter

230: power detector 234: low noise amplifier

236: oscillator 238: mixer

240: band filter 242: detector

246: analog-to-digital converter 250: variable attenuator

260 test terminal 270 controller

310,410: transceiver 320: large power amplifier

330,430: band filter 340,440: directional coupler

350,450 antenna 420: low noise amplifier

An embodiment of a self-checking method of a base station in a cellular system according to the present invention, which is designed to achieve the above object, in a base station having a base station diagnostic apparatus,

Diagnosing its own reliability by the base station diagnostic apparatus;

Diagnosing a transmission path of the base station;

Diagnosing a reception path of the base station;

Diagnosing an outgoing signal processing function of the base station using a test terminal; And

Reporting each diagnosis result to a system operator.

The diagnostic apparatus of the base station according to the present invention sequentially proceeds with the self-check procedure of the base station according to a predetermined scenario.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the operating principle of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a base station self-checking method according to the present invention, as illustrated, diagnosing self-reliability of a base station diagnosis apparatus (s110); Diagnosing a transmission path of the base station (s120); Diagnosing a reception path of the base station (s130); Diagnosing an outgoing signal processing function of the base station using the test terminal (s140); It is configured as a step (s150) of reporting each diagnosis result to the system operator, the operation and effects thereof will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the configuration of the base station diagnostic apparatus applied to the present invention, as shown, a high frequency switch 200 for selecting a signal from the base station to connect to the base station diagnostic apparatus; A power detector 230 for measuring the signal selected by the high frequency switch for each frequency; A test terminal 260 which communicates with a base station through a Common Air Interface (CAI) and remotely checks a call service state of the base station; And a controller 270 for controlling the high frequency switch, the power detector, and the test terminal.

In step S110, the base station diagnostic apparatus configured as shown in FIG. 3 diagnoses reliability by itself. To this end, the base station diagnostic apparatus first self-checks the high frequency switch 200, then self-checks the power detector 230, and then determines whether there is a failure using the check result.

First, a procedure of self-checking the high frequency switch 200 will be described.

When signal source 246 of FIG. 4 generates a signal having a constant power level and frequency, switch 9 248 sends the output signal of signal source 246 through port 2 to splitter 7 252. Connect to port 1. Divider 7 252 connects the output signal to switch 8 254.

The switch 8 254 selects and connects a port (port 1) of a path (α path in the example of FIG. 4) to be tested among three paths (α path, β path, and γ path) of the base station. The signal output from switch 8 254 is then connected to switch 1 202 through port 2 of distributor 4 208 and port 1 of distributor 1 206. Switch 1 202 selects the α1 port for self path testing. The signal output from port a1 of switch 1 202 is then input to port beta 2 of switch 4 214.

If switch 4 214 selects β2 port, the output signal of switch 4 214 is input to port 3 of switch 7 232 through port 2 of distributor 2 216 and port 1 of distributor 5 218. do. When switch 7 232 selects port 4, the output signal of switch 7 232 is connected to a low noise amplifier (LNA) 234. The low noise amplifier 234 mixes the output signal of the switch 7 232 with the signal generated by the synthesizer 236 at the mixer 238, where the output signal of the mixer is The frequency of the output signal is determined to have the same frequency as the output signal of the signal source 246.

The output signal of the mixer 238 is input to the detector 242 through the band pass filter 240, the detector 242 outputs a constant output voltage according to the level of the input signal. The analog signal output from the detector 242 is converted into a digital value by an analog / digital converter (ADC) 244 and then outputted as ①. The controller 270 of the base station diagnosis apparatus compares the digital value with a value considering the path loss from the signal source 246 to the input of the detector 242, and if there is a difference by a certain level or more, the path is abnormal. To judge.

Next, a procedure of self-checking the power detector 230 will be described.

When signal source 246 of FIG. 4 generates a signal having a constant power level and frequency, switch 9 248 connects the output signal of signal source 246 through port 1 to port 4 of switch 7 232. do. Switch 7 232 connects the signal from port 4 to a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) 234, which is coupled to the local oscillation signal generated by the local oscillator 236 at the mixer 238. Are mixed. The local oscillator 236 determines the frequency of the local oscillation signal such that the output signal of the mixer has the same frequency as the output signal of the signal source 246.

The output signal of the mixer 238 is input to the detector 242 through the band pass filter 240, the detector 242 outputs a constant output voltage according to the level of the input signal. The analog signal output from the detector 242 is converted into a digital value by an analog / digital converter (ADC) 244, and then output to ②.

The controller 270 of the base station diagnostic apparatus compares the digital value with a value considering the path loss from the signal source 246 to the input of the detector 242, and when the difference is more than a predetermined level, the power detector 230 I think there is a problem.

As described above, if the base station diagnostic apparatus performs the self-check of the high frequency switch and the power detector, if the check result of the power detector is determined to be normal, and the self-check of the path thereof is determined to be a failure, the corresponding path is It can be judged that there is an abnormality. In addition, if the self-check result of the own path is normal, and if the check result of the power detector is determined to be a failure, it may be determined that the signal is normal but there is an error in the path after the switch 7 (232).

This self-diagnosis step (s110) is necessary to ensure the reliability in performing the check of the base station in the subsequent steps (s120 to s140). When the self-test of the base station diagnostic apparatus is completed, the base station diagnostic apparatus diagnoses a base station transmission path in step S120. To this end, the base station diagnostic apparatus measures the transmission power of the base station and checks the transmission antenna of the base station.

The diagnosis of the base station transmission path is performed for each transmission path that is determined to be normal as a result of the self-diagnosis of step S110. Since the base station has 2 to 3 antennas for each path (α, β, and γ paths), the base station diagnostic apparatus selects an arbitrary frequency to be diagnosed and diagnoses an abnormality for each antenna.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram illustrating a measurement procedure of a base station transmission power according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, a procedure of measuring transmission power of a base station will be described.

When the baseband signal generated by the digital unit of the base station is input to the transceiver 310, the transceiver 310 generates an RF carrier to carry the baseband signal, and then generates the generated carrier Load the baseband signal on the signal. The high power amplifier (HPA) 320 amplifies the output signal of the transceiver 310, and the band filter 330 removes signals other than the base station transmission bandwidth from the output signal of the high power amplifier 320. The transmission directional coupler (DC) 340 transmits the output signal of the bandpass filter 330 to the base station transmission antenna 350, and the transmission antenna 350 radiates the output signal of the directional coupler 340 to the air. do.

The directional coupler 340 has an ANT (Antenna) port and an EQP (Equip) port. The high frequency switch 200 of the base station diagnostic apparatus receives a signal output from the port of the directional coupler 340. The EQP port of the directional coupler 340 outputs a forward signal attenuated by the coupling loss of the directional coupler 340, and the ANT port is a signal transmitted from the directional coupler 340 to the transmitting antenna 250. Outputs a reflected signal that is not radiated by impedance mismatching and fed back.

In order to measure the transmission power of the base station, the high frequency switch 200 of the base station diagnostic apparatus selects a forward signal output from the EQP port of the directional coupler 340. The high frequency switch 200 transmits the forward signal of the EQP port to the power detector 230, and the power detector 230 measures the digital value of the output signal.

If the diagnosis result of step S110 is normal, the controller 270 of the base station diagnostic apparatus receives the baseband signal level and the radio frequency output level of the transceiver from the transceiver 310 from the transceiver 310. By comparing the gain in each stage with the final measured digital value, it is inferred from which stage the output is abnormal.

6 is a block diagram illustrating a procedure for checking a base station transmission antenna according to the present invention, and a procedure for checking a transmission antenna of the base station will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

The baseband signal generated by the digital portion of the base station includes a transceiver 310, a high power amplifier (HPA) 320, a band filter 330, a transmit directional combiner (DC) 340, and a base station transmit antenna. It is radiated into the air through 350.

In order to diagnose the abnormality of the transmission antenna of the base station, the high frequency switch 200 of the base station diagnostic apparatus selects the reflected signal output from the ANT port of the directional coupler 340. The high frequency switch 200 transmits the reflected signal from the ANT port to the power detector 230, and the power detector 230 measures the digital value of the output signal.

The controller 270 of the base station diagnostic apparatus calculates a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of the antenna using the value measured from the EQP port and the value measured from the ANT port. The controller 270 may determine the matching state of the antenna 350 through the calculated VSWR. If it is determined that the matching state is normal, the transmission path of the base station to be checked may be determined to be normal.

In step S130, the base station diagnostic apparatus diagnoses a reception path of the base station.

7 is a block diagram illustrating a diagnosis procedure of a base station reception path according to the present invention. A procedure of diagnosing a base station reception path will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

The base station diagnostic apparatus selects a frequency to be diagnosed by the power detector 230 and then generates a single tone signal having a constant power level with the selected frequency. The high frequency switch 200 connects the generated signal to the EQP port of the receiving directional coupler 440 connected to the base station receiving antenna 450. The signal input to the EQP port of the directional coupler 440 is input to the base station transceiver 410 through the band filter 430 and the low noise amplifier (LNA) 420.

The base station diagnosis apparatus measures a value of a signal input to the transceiver 410, compares the measured value with a value in consideration of the gain from the base station directional coupler 440 to the transceiver 410, and causes an abnormality in the reception path of the base station. Determine whether there is.

In step S140, the base station diagnostic apparatus determines whether the call is normally serviced for each path using the test terminal 260.

8 is a block diagram illustrating a diagnosis procedure of the base station signaling function according to the present invention, and a procedure for diagnosing the base station signaling function will be described with reference to FIG. 8.

The main processor 10 of the base station transmits a channel list message s205 to the test terminal 260 through the paging channel so that the test terminal 260 can tune to the frequency to be tested by the base station, and the base station diagnostic apparatus. Send outgoing test call request command (s210).

The controller 270 of the base station diagnostic apparatus selects a path to be tested using a high frequency switch, and periodically transmits a status request command s215 or s225 from the test terminal 260 to periodically check the state of the test terminal 260. Check it. The test terminal 260 notifies its status by transmitting a status request response (s220) (s230) to the controller 270. The controller 270 tunes the frequency and phase of the test terminal 260 to the path to be tested and checks whether the test terminal 260 periodically monitors the paging channel several times (for example, five times). Check it.

If the test terminal 260 has normally tuned, the controller 270 transmits a call request request command s235 to the test terminal 260, and the test terminal 260 responds to the call request request (Acknowledge). S240). The test terminal 260, which has received the originating signal, requests transmission from the main processor 10 of the base station through the access channel (s245) (s250).

The main processor 10 checks the mobile identification number (MIN) of the call requested to be called, and if the telephone number is the telephone number of the test terminal 260, instructs the test terminal to release through the paging channel (s255). (s260). If the request and release of the transmission are normally performed as described above, the main processor determines that the path to be tested is normally served.

In step s150, the result determined by the diagnostic procedures s110 to s140 performed as described above is reported to the management system 20 of the system operator through the main processor 10 of the base station. Based on the above results, the system operator determines whether the corresponding base station can normally perform the service, and takes appropriate measures when maintenance is required.

In the present invention operating as described in detail above, the effects obtained by the representative ones of the disclosed inventions will be briefly described as follows.

The present invention is to determine the scenario for the base station self-check, and the base station diagnostic apparatus checks the function of the base station by itself according to the determined scenario, and through the results the system and the path and apparatus that the base station is expected and abnormalities are expected By notifying the user, there is an effect of realizing the provision of a stable call service through a quick action of the operator.

Claims (5)

In the cellular mobile communication base station having a built-in base station diagnostic device, Diagnosing its own reliability by the base station diagnostic apparatus; Diagnosing a transmission path of the base station; Diagnosing a reception path of the base station; Diagnosing an outgoing signal processing function of the base station using a test terminal; And Self-checking method of a base station in a cellular system, comprising reporting each diagnosis result to a system operator. The method of claim 1, wherein diagnosing the self-reliability comprises: Feeding back a signal generated by the base station diagnostic apparatus to a path to perform a test of the base station; Diagnosing the operation of the high frequency switch of the base station diagnostic apparatus by comparing the measured value of the feedback signal with the measured value of the generated signal; Receiving a signal generated by the base station diagnostic apparatus through a power detection path of the base station diagnostic apparatus; And Diagnosing the operation of the power detector of the base station diagnostic apparatus by comparing the measured value of the received signal with the measured value of the generated signal. The method of claim 1, wherein diagnosing the transmission path comprises: Measuring a forward power level of the base station transmit antenna output from the base transceiver station through the EQP port of the base station transmit directional combiner; Comparing the signal level measured by the base station transceiver with the transmission power level measured by the EQP port to determine whether there is an abnormality in the base station transmission path; Measuring the reflected power level of the base station transmit antenna output from the ANT port of the base station transmit directional combiner; And And comparing the power level measured at the EQP port with the power level measured at the ANT port to determine whether there is an abnormality of the base station transmission antenna. The method of claim 1, wherein diagnosing the reception path comprises: Inputting the signal generated by the base station diagnostic apparatus to the EQP port of the base station receiving directional coupler; Measuring a power level of a signal received from the base station receiving directional combiner to the base station transceiver; And comparing the power level of the signal generated by the base station diagnosis apparatus with the power level measured by the transceiver to determine whether there is an abnormality in the base station reception path. The method of claim 1, wherein the diagnosing the call signal processing function comprises: Transmitting, by a main processor of a base station, a channel list message to a test terminal of a base station diagnostic apparatus through a common air interface (CAI); Requesting, by the main processor, an outgoing signal test from the base station diagnostic apparatus; Checking, by the controller of the base station diagnosis apparatus, whether the test terminal is tuned to the frequency and phase to be tested and is monitoring the paging channel; If the test terminal has tuned normally, requesting a signal from the controller by the controller; The test terminal responding to a call request from the controller and requesting a call from the main processor; And If the mobile terminal requesting origination is the test terminal, the main processor instructing the test terminal to release the call.